Sacred Spaces
"Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs."
Psalms 66:4 (NLT)
The contrast could not have been more vivid.
As I walked through the church's fellowship hall, the gleaming chrome of the kitchen, sparkling tile floors, and long tables told of meals shared. In the same space was a fan of a hundred chairs, facing a stage where speakers, microphones, and percussion instruments said contemporary worship.
Coming out of there into the chapel was a shock to my soul.
While everything I left immediately behind me had the feeling it was interchangable - replaceable, what surrounded me now was timeless.
The vaulted ceiling's arches lifted spirits to the heavenlies. Echoes shouted from every window, every door. Old walnut paneling and pews were carved by craftsmen and worn smooth by generations. Coloring everything within the space was the stained glass window of Christ the Shepherd.
Of interest to preachers, there were two pulpits. But the space needed no words.
I could feel the need of the artist in stained glass to speak to a little girl, scared that her family was never going to be the same, to have Christ say to her, "I'll hold you like this lamb."
I could hear the passion of the craftsmen who constructed the mighty pipe organ resting in the loft to shout to all that would hear - "He is risen!"
I could see through the woodcarver's skill in his shaping of symbols of the faith surrounding the altar, his desire to show that the faith would endure forever.
Everything in this space seemed set apart for one purpose - to glorify God.
Friends, I am thrilled by modern expressions in music, in the arts, that bring glory to God and people closer to His arms. But is it only the preacher, the singer, the musician who can speak? Where are those who would praise God with the works of their hands and create such sacred spaces?
As we move forward into the future, let's not forget those places built to express an assurance that God has spoken and will speak to those who sincerely seek to hear His voice. We need more sanctuaries and less McChurches.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Monday, November 29, 2004
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Thanksgiving
Days remembered- with my family gathering in my aunts home, just across the street from the mill village that my family worked in, some all their lives. The home was filled with memories of others long gone but living on in stories told and anecdotes repeated in laughter. The table was filled with the best everyone could bring - but the side table was where my hopes lay - pecan pies, carrot cakes, and everything else.
Some years not everyone could be there. I can remember my cousin's being in Vietnam one year, and in Germany after that, serving his nation in the Army. Years later, another was off in Iraq, flying helicopters. Sometimes it was hard to believe we had chased each other through the living room just a few years earlier as boys.
A mixture of pride and fear crept over us those years, and the prayers at the table spoke of faith in a God bigger than our fears. This year is filled with uncertainty, as our nation is at war. Family after family will sit down to a table with empty chairs bearing witness. Our men and women are away, in harm's way. As we bow our heads tomorrow, many things have changed since I was a boy.
God hasn't.
Hebrews 6
When God wanted to guarantee his promises, He gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee-- 18God can't break his word. And because His word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.
We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. 19It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God
Be thankful. Our God is faithful to care, to love, to save.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Days remembered- with my family gathering in my aunts home, just across the street from the mill village that my family worked in, some all their lives. The home was filled with memories of others long gone but living on in stories told and anecdotes repeated in laughter. The table was filled with the best everyone could bring - but the side table was where my hopes lay - pecan pies, carrot cakes, and everything else.
Some years not everyone could be there. I can remember my cousin's being in Vietnam one year, and in Germany after that, serving his nation in the Army. Years later, another was off in Iraq, flying helicopters. Sometimes it was hard to believe we had chased each other through the living room just a few years earlier as boys.
A mixture of pride and fear crept over us those years, and the prayers at the table spoke of faith in a God bigger than our fears. This year is filled with uncertainty, as our nation is at war. Family after family will sit down to a table with empty chairs bearing witness. Our men and women are away, in harm's way. As we bow our heads tomorrow, many things have changed since I was a boy.
God hasn't.
Hebrews 6
When God wanted to guarantee his promises, He gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee-- 18God can't break his word. And because His word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.
We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. 19It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God
Be thankful. Our God is faithful to care, to love, to save.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Beginning Again
Last week ended with a whine.
The whine could have emenated from the youth who were here at New Hope for a Friday night lock in. Or for those sleep deprived saints, Doug and Ellen Fannon who gave up some sleep to build relationships between kids and God. The day after, I'm sure the youth bounced out of bed and ran off to do stuff. The adults? Well....
But more than likely the whine came from me as I tried to eradicate several viruses, spyware, and even keyloggers that had invaded the church office PC. Every time someone opened a window in Internet Explorer, pop up ads ... popped up, layering the screen. Annoying. The computer ran so slow I thought I was back on my old Atari PC. Aggravating.
The viruses and the spyware though, were extremely dangerous.
So I went to work, updating security, running anti-spyware software, editing the registry. The result? Almost all gone. But not all. So I kept at it, trying this solution after that one, in safe mode and not, until finally I had to admit defeat.
The only way to eradicate it all, is to start over with a fresh hard drive. Reformat and reinstall.
To begin again. I sure hate to have to do that.
We've been studying the book of Beginnings lately (Genesis), and at one point, God came to the same conclusion that I did Saturday night. But He wasn't talking about a tool like a PC, He was speaking of His creation. And he wasn't whining about it - He was hurting.
GOD saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil--evil, evil, evil from morning to night. 6GOD was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. 7GOD said, "I'll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep... Genesis 6:5-6
Sin broke God's heart.
Folks, when I read that again a few weeks ago, even when I read it now - it brings me to tears.
Because I know God to be love beyond all concepts of love we humans are capable of understanding. He'll go anywhere, do anything to let people know just how much He loves them. The most famous verse in the Bible says "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son..."
Imagine how He must have hurt then, when man broke His heart.
Yet in His pain, he was merciful, seeing Noah (not a perfect man himself), as someone who He could continue to love - who hadn't given up on God. So God didn't give up on Him, instead, He re-created the world, and set Noah and family in it to try again. And then a couple thousand years later, a baby was born in Bethlehem for the purpose of saving the world. Hope was re-created in a manger. And God showed us how to live.
I want to ask you something. And you don't have to be a believer to answer this.
Given what you know about God, is your life pleasing Him, or is it breaking His heart?
Listen, God is still re-creating lives - if you'll surrender to His plan and purpose for your life. Get rid of all the "viruses" that keep you from enjoying the freedom that Jesus can give. Stop trying to live a good life and allow the Spirit of God to live in you and enable you to live a life beyond limits.
Give Jesus your heart.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Last week ended with a whine.
The whine could have emenated from the youth who were here at New Hope for a Friday night lock in. Or for those sleep deprived saints, Doug and Ellen Fannon who gave up some sleep to build relationships between kids and God. The day after, I'm sure the youth bounced out of bed and ran off to do stuff. The adults? Well....
But more than likely the whine came from me as I tried to eradicate several viruses, spyware, and even keyloggers that had invaded the church office PC. Every time someone opened a window in Internet Explorer, pop up ads ... popped up, layering the screen. Annoying. The computer ran so slow I thought I was back on my old Atari PC. Aggravating.
The viruses and the spyware though, were extremely dangerous.
So I went to work, updating security, running anti-spyware software, editing the registry. The result? Almost all gone. But not all. So I kept at it, trying this solution after that one, in safe mode and not, until finally I had to admit defeat.
The only way to eradicate it all, is to start over with a fresh hard drive. Reformat and reinstall.
To begin again. I sure hate to have to do that.
We've been studying the book of Beginnings lately (Genesis), and at one point, God came to the same conclusion that I did Saturday night. But He wasn't talking about a tool like a PC, He was speaking of His creation. And he wasn't whining about it - He was hurting.
GOD saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil--evil, evil, evil from morning to night. 6GOD was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. 7GOD said, "I'll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep... Genesis 6:5-6
Sin broke God's heart.
Folks, when I read that again a few weeks ago, even when I read it now - it brings me to tears.
Because I know God to be love beyond all concepts of love we humans are capable of understanding. He'll go anywhere, do anything to let people know just how much He loves them. The most famous verse in the Bible says "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son..."
Imagine how He must have hurt then, when man broke His heart.
Yet in His pain, he was merciful, seeing Noah (not a perfect man himself), as someone who He could continue to love - who hadn't given up on God. So God didn't give up on Him, instead, He re-created the world, and set Noah and family in it to try again. And then a couple thousand years later, a baby was born in Bethlehem for the purpose of saving the world. Hope was re-created in a manger. And God showed us how to live.
I want to ask you something. And you don't have to be a believer to answer this.
Given what you know about God, is your life pleasing Him, or is it breaking His heart?
Listen, God is still re-creating lives - if you'll surrender to His plan and purpose for your life. Get rid of all the "viruses" that keep you from enjoying the freedom that Jesus can give. Stop trying to live a good life and allow the Spirit of God to live in you and enable you to live a life beyond limits.
Give Jesus your heart.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
In Good Hands
Little girls gather around their leaders, kneeling before they pray. They are asked if there's anything God needs to hear about, anything that's weighing them down. One speaks, then another. In this place made holy by their heartcries, they speak, asking Jesus to hear their prayers. Sometimes if you were to hear them, they'd break your heart.
Who are they? Children of the age we live in. Most all from homes where divorce has been a visitor, many from where plenty has never shown up.
Who are they? The world would say nobody really. Everywhere they go they're really not heard. After all, they're children. Seen and not heard, speak when spoken too. Come back and see me when you grow up says the world.
But they are not in the world's hands. God's Son came so that they would have someone they could go to with their worries and their cares. Jesus hears every word.
He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt
and He won't disregard the small and insignificant,
but He'll steadily and firmly set things right. Isaiah 42:3 (MSG)
That's just another reason I love Jesus so.
People achieve power, and they tend to forget where they came from. People achieve success, and poverty is something only "those people" get themselves into. We're quick to pass by on the other side unless it suits our fancy.
Thank God there's Jesus.
With the world to care for, with galaxies at His beck and call, He hears the heartbeat of those little children, and pauses, and cares. He stops for them, and acts on their behalf.
Just as He'll do for you.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Little girls gather around their leaders, kneeling before they pray. They are asked if there's anything God needs to hear about, anything that's weighing them down. One speaks, then another. In this place made holy by their heartcries, they speak, asking Jesus to hear their prayers. Sometimes if you were to hear them, they'd break your heart.
Who are they? Children of the age we live in. Most all from homes where divorce has been a visitor, many from where plenty has never shown up.
Who are they? The world would say nobody really. Everywhere they go they're really not heard. After all, they're children. Seen and not heard, speak when spoken too. Come back and see me when you grow up says the world.
But they are not in the world's hands. God's Son came so that they would have someone they could go to with their worries and their cares. Jesus hears every word.
He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt
and He won't disregard the small and insignificant,
but He'll steadily and firmly set things right. Isaiah 42:3 (MSG)
That's just another reason I love Jesus so.
People achieve power, and they tend to forget where they came from. People achieve success, and poverty is something only "those people" get themselves into. We're quick to pass by on the other side unless it suits our fancy.
Thank God there's Jesus.
With the world to care for, with galaxies at His beck and call, He hears the heartbeat of those little children, and pauses, and cares. He stops for them, and acts on their behalf.
Just as He'll do for you.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Is that okay?
My father in love is a precise builder. He's a great man, a true believer in Christ, and a model for me. I thank God for him often, and he's a big supporter of my work for God, and for me. Our relationship has grown much deeper over the years.
When I was placed into that wonderful family through marriage, one of the main objects on my agenda was to make sure he felt his daughter had chosen well. So I tried to hang around and help him as he built things. Did I mention he's a precise builder? The old "measure twice, cut once" really applies here, and in those early days, he started me out by allowing me the honor of holding the end of the measuring tape.
Not the one that has the numbers that count - I'm talking about the bare metal end.
Yep, the one that most of the time no one needs to hold.
I can remember hoping that one day he'd trust me enough to measure for him, or even actually cut the wood we were working with. But until that day I'd hold the end of the ruler, as well as I possibly could.
Sometimes I'd even ask him, "is that okay?"
My goal was to please him, and for him to place his trust in my work. (And eventually, he did)
Some of you have noticed that I haven't been writing as often lately. There have been some physical reasons - PC troubles galore, tiredness, even a little illness on my end. But mostly it's been because I really feel the need to listen far more than speak right now.
My core belief is that God loves me so much that He hasn't just overlooked my sins and shortcomings, but He has paid a terrible price for them. Having done that, He hasn't set me adrift and said "okay, now live better!" Instead, He's stayed close, keeping an intimate connection with me through His Word, His Spirit, and the events around me. And out of deep gratitude and love for Him and what He's done for me, I am to live my life to please Him.
It's so easy to just live mindlessly, never really stepping back and asking yourself - "Am I pleasing God?"
You get up and head out for work, for school, or an appointment. You are around people all day, speaking with them about shared interests, work issues, overdue library fees, doctors bills or whatever. Your words, your actions, your attitudes speak to them about who you are, about what you value, about what you believe in.
Was it pleasing to God?
Here I'm not talking about "being a good person", "treating others like I want to be treated", "trying to live a good life", or any of those things we say when we are walking around the edges of a God honoring life. One man that did that to the max was Paul. Here's what he said about that kind of living.
I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. Philippians 3:10
See friends, at the end of the day, everything outside of being right with God and living the Life is second class stuff. Don't you want to go all the way with Christ?
I'm sure some of you do. I know I do.
And sometimes I just have to step back from the work and ask Him - "Is that okay?"
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
My father in love is a precise builder. He's a great man, a true believer in Christ, and a model for me. I thank God for him often, and he's a big supporter of my work for God, and for me. Our relationship has grown much deeper over the years.
When I was placed into that wonderful family through marriage, one of the main objects on my agenda was to make sure he felt his daughter had chosen well. So I tried to hang around and help him as he built things. Did I mention he's a precise builder? The old "measure twice, cut once" really applies here, and in those early days, he started me out by allowing me the honor of holding the end of the measuring tape.
Not the one that has the numbers that count - I'm talking about the bare metal end.
Yep, the one that most of the time no one needs to hold.
I can remember hoping that one day he'd trust me enough to measure for him, or even actually cut the wood we were working with. But until that day I'd hold the end of the ruler, as well as I possibly could.
Sometimes I'd even ask him, "is that okay?"
My goal was to please him, and for him to place his trust in my work. (And eventually, he did)
Some of you have noticed that I haven't been writing as often lately. There have been some physical reasons - PC troubles galore, tiredness, even a little illness on my end. But mostly it's been because I really feel the need to listen far more than speak right now.
My core belief is that God loves me so much that He hasn't just overlooked my sins and shortcomings, but He has paid a terrible price for them. Having done that, He hasn't set me adrift and said "okay, now live better!" Instead, He's stayed close, keeping an intimate connection with me through His Word, His Spirit, and the events around me. And out of deep gratitude and love for Him and what He's done for me, I am to live my life to please Him.
It's so easy to just live mindlessly, never really stepping back and asking yourself - "Am I pleasing God?"
You get up and head out for work, for school, or an appointment. You are around people all day, speaking with them about shared interests, work issues, overdue library fees, doctors bills or whatever. Your words, your actions, your attitudes speak to them about who you are, about what you value, about what you believe in.
Was it pleasing to God?
Here I'm not talking about "being a good person", "treating others like I want to be treated", "trying to live a good life", or any of those things we say when we are walking around the edges of a God honoring life. One man that did that to the max was Paul. Here's what he said about that kind of living.
I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. Philippians 3:10
See friends, at the end of the day, everything outside of being right with God and living the Life is second class stuff. Don't you want to go all the way with Christ?
I'm sure some of you do. I know I do.
And sometimes I just have to step back from the work and ask Him - "Is that okay?"
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Remembrance
In the society in which we live, there are few times when we pause - much less stop.
But we stop today.
No mail. No banks.
Federal employees and many others have the day off from work. Someone must think it's important we remember. It's Veterans day.
Originally, it was put into place to remember the day the guns fell silent in France in the year 1918. But years later that was amended to include veterans of all wars. The date's been changed a couple of times, but we've finally settled on the original date used. So we stop and remember all the brave young men and women that have served.
I suspect many of those who served never got the thank you they deserve. America can be fickle in our praise. We are apt to follow the sound of the guns, awarding heroes wreaths to those who met the enemy in combat, and much less to those who never had to go to battle. My friend who retired from the Air Force recently flew hundreds of hours in defense of our nation. But he never fired in war. He was ready. His life was on the line.
For that I say, "Thank you."
All of you who served.
All of you who pledged "to support and defend the constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic." Thank you.
All of you who left home and family to provide protection for my home and my family while we enjoyed the freedom and security your vigilance gave.
Thank you.
It is true that
"...the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends." John 15:13
While thousands lost their lives in the service of our country, millions offered their lives, willing to do whatever it took to keep America safe. That willingness can't be bought. But it does have a price.
And today, a grateful America stops to remember.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
In the society in which we live, there are few times when we pause - much less stop.
But we stop today.
No mail. No banks.
Federal employees and many others have the day off from work. Someone must think it's important we remember. It's Veterans day.
Originally, it was put into place to remember the day the guns fell silent in France in the year 1918. But years later that was amended to include veterans of all wars. The date's been changed a couple of times, but we've finally settled on the original date used. So we stop and remember all the brave young men and women that have served.
I suspect many of those who served never got the thank you they deserve. America can be fickle in our praise. We are apt to follow the sound of the guns, awarding heroes wreaths to those who met the enemy in combat, and much less to those who never had to go to battle. My friend who retired from the Air Force recently flew hundreds of hours in defense of our nation. But he never fired in war. He was ready. His life was on the line.
For that I say, "Thank you."
All of you who served.
All of you who pledged "to support and defend the constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic." Thank you.
All of you who left home and family to provide protection for my home and my family while we enjoyed the freedom and security your vigilance gave.
Thank you.
It is true that
"...the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends." John 15:13
While thousands lost their lives in the service of our country, millions offered their lives, willing to do whatever it took to keep America safe. That willingness can't be bought. But it does have a price.
And today, a grateful America stops to remember.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Semper Fidelis
Today marks the 229th birthday of the Marine Corps. Even as I type this, "America's 911" is engaged in fierce fighting in Fallujah, Iraq. Millions of men and women have served their country as Marines in its history, with valor and with distinction. In many of the most famous battles the world associates with Marines though, they were outnumbered and outgunned - yet they triumphed.
How?
It begins with a simple Latin phrase that every Marine boot learns. "Semper Fidelis" - always faithful.
Everyone understands what "always" means, but the depths of "faithful" are less frequently explored. At it's root there are words associated like "steadfast", "fidelity", "loyal". But it can also mean "closeness to the original", or "a faithful translation of the original."
Think about it with me. For 229 years, men and women have pushed themselves through demanding training, forced themselves into harm's way, bled and died always seeking to remain faithful to the Corps - to the original vision of what being a Marine means. Their fidelity to that vision, and their dogged perseverance in teaching it to successive generations has given us a group of people whose faithfulness extends past their active service into their entire lives. "Once a Marine, always a Marine."
We can learn from that folks.
Our original was Jesus Christ. He patterned for us a way of life - of relating to God and to men and women so different and yet so right that people have been giving Him their lives for over 2000 years. His followers have faced matyrdom, mutilation, and every torture known.
From His death on a cross to now though, His disciples rise each morning with a renewed committment to make a difference that day for Him. Their goal - to be always faithful to the One who gave them new lives, and to pass His teachings to the next generations.
They sometimes fail. But He never does.
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalms 136:1 (NLT)
God is always faithful.
He was faithful yesterday; He's faithful today. What He's promised, He will do. May His unfailing love find you today.
Semper Fidelis, and God bless the Marine Corps.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Today marks the 229th birthday of the Marine Corps. Even as I type this, "America's 911" is engaged in fierce fighting in Fallujah, Iraq. Millions of men and women have served their country as Marines in its history, with valor and with distinction. In many of the most famous battles the world associates with Marines though, they were outnumbered and outgunned - yet they triumphed.
How?
It begins with a simple Latin phrase that every Marine boot learns. "Semper Fidelis" - always faithful.
Everyone understands what "always" means, but the depths of "faithful" are less frequently explored. At it's root there are words associated like "steadfast", "fidelity", "loyal". But it can also mean "closeness to the original", or "a faithful translation of the original."
Think about it with me. For 229 years, men and women have pushed themselves through demanding training, forced themselves into harm's way, bled and died always seeking to remain faithful to the Corps - to the original vision of what being a Marine means. Their fidelity to that vision, and their dogged perseverance in teaching it to successive generations has given us a group of people whose faithfulness extends past their active service into their entire lives. "Once a Marine, always a Marine."
We can learn from that folks.
Our original was Jesus Christ. He patterned for us a way of life - of relating to God and to men and women so different and yet so right that people have been giving Him their lives for over 2000 years. His followers have faced matyrdom, mutilation, and every torture known.
From His death on a cross to now though, His disciples rise each morning with a renewed committment to make a difference that day for Him. Their goal - to be always faithful to the One who gave them new lives, and to pass His teachings to the next generations.
They sometimes fail. But He never does.
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalms 136:1 (NLT)
God is always faithful.
He was faithful yesterday; He's faithful today. What He's promised, He will do. May His unfailing love find you today.
Semper Fidelis, and God bless the Marine Corps.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
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